18 October 2010 -- The Ministry of Health of Indonesia has announced two new cases of human infection of H5N1 avian influenza.

A 35-year-old male from West Jakarta, Jakarta Province developed symptoms on 16 August, was hospitalized on 20 August and died on 27 August. Initial investigations into the source of his infection suggest a number of sudden chicken deaths occurred around the cases house a week before onset.

The second case, a 40-year-old female from Kota Depok, West Java Province developed symptoms on 9 September, was hospitalized on 12 September and died on 17 September. Initial investigations into the source of her infection suggest exposure at a live bird market.

For both cases laboratory tests have confirmed infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus.

Of the 170 cases confirmed to date in Indonesia, 141 have been fatal.